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Assemblymember Mark Weprin, Chair
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
Assemblymember Joan L. Millman, Chair
ASSEMBLY COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
Assemblymember Barbara Lifton, Chair
ASSEMBLY TASK FORCE ON WOMEN'S ISSUES
Assemblymember Jose Rivera, Chair
ASSEMBLY TASK FORCE ON FOOD, FARM AND NUTRITION POLICY
Assemblymember Joan Christensen, Chair
ASSEMBLY COMMISSION ON SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Notice of Assembly Roundtable

State Programs for Micro-Business Assistance:
Are They Working?

Friday, June 2, 2006
11 AM to 1 PM
Community Room, Borough Hall
209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY



Description: The Roundtable will bring together a panel of experts from micro-business development organizations, micro-loan programs, community development funding institutions, libraries and business owners, to discuss strategies for improving the State's outreach to micro-businesses. The Roundtable is open to the public.

Background: Micro-enterprise development is a proven, viable grassroots strategy for achieving significant gains in the incomes and assets of citizens excluded from the economic mainstream, yet the State has heretofore done relatively little to encourage it. Micro-businesses, generally defined as business enterprises with five or fewer employees, account for 88% of all businesses in New York State, and employ approximately 20% of the State's workforce. There are currently 1.6 million micro-businesses operating in New York, generating approximately $58 billion in annual revenues. Micro-businesses generate jobs, often in communities with high unemployment, and provide a route to economic self-sufficiency. Home-based and part-time micro-businesses can be an innovative way for families, and in particular women, to combine child-rearing with income generation.

Although the State has a number of programs in statute to encourage micro-enterprise development, including the Minority and Women-Owned Business Development and Lending Program, the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, SUNY Small Business Development Centers, the Self-Employment Assistance Program, and the Rural Revitalization Program under the Urban Development Corporation, these programs may not be as effective as they could be. Overall budget allocations for these programs are relatively low, and are inconsistent from year to year. Actual expenditures by the State are difficult to track, due to the broad funding streams through which micro-business development monies flow. Finally, restrictions in statute such as caps on micro-loan amounts and eligible populations may need to be re-visited. The Roundtable will help us to learn more about how to best assist micro-businesses, and to make the case for robust State support.

Questions to be addressed:

  • How do State, local and federal micro-business programs work together? Are State dollars effectively used as a match to leverage federal funds? Could this be improved?

  • How can the State help in capacity building for not-for-profit micro-enterprise development organizations? Are administrative overhead caps in existing programs too restrictive?

  • How can the State best measure the effectiveness of micro-business development organizations?

  • What is the appropriate upper limit for a micro-loan? Do the caps currently in statute need to be changed?

  • What is the role of public libraries in providing business assistance? Does the State fund this? Should there be a dedicated funding stream?

  • What are the needs of differing populations, such as women entrepreneurs, minorities, low income vs. middle income start-ups, immigrants? What programs exist to address these needs?

  • What are the needs of different business types, such as home-based, internet, arts-related, child care and food businesses? What programs exist to address these needs?

  • What is the role of business incubators and other shared-use facilities in encouraging micro-business?

  • Is micro-business ownership a possible way to self-sufficiency for the welfare to work population? Are there any models/program serving this population?

  • How does the workforce training system encourage entrepreneurship when appropriate?

  • How can micro-business development organizations network effectively?



ROUNDTABLE REPLY FORM

Please let us know by May 25th if you are able to attend, and please contact us with any questions about the event. We look forward to your joining us in what promises to be a productive and informative exchange.

Jean Emery
Program Manager
Assembly Commission on Government Administration
Agency 4, 13th Fl.
Albany, NY 12248
Email: emeryj@assembly.State.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-3632
Fax: 518-455-4574


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